Dec. 5, 1993: Bears' `D' Day

Not in San Diego, not in Kansas City, not in Detroit and especially not in Chicago, where the Bears turned five turnovers Sunday into an implausible 30-17 victory over the Packers.

"That's four in a row against all winning teams when we played them," said Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh, who directed an offense that failed to score a touchdown for the fourth time this season.

The win in front of 62,236 frenzied fans vaulted the Bears (7-5) into a three-way tie for first place in the NFC Central with the Packers and Detroit Lions, who lost 13-0 to Minnesota (6-6).

The Bears' defense scored three touchdowns, one on an interception by Dante Jones and lateral to Jeremy Lincoln for an 80-yard return. Safety Mark Carrier returned an interception 34 yards for a score with 1 minute 41 seconds left in the game, and Jones recovered a fumble and returned it 32 yards for a third-period touchdown.

It is the first time the Bears have scored three defensive touchdowns since the 73-0 championship win over Washington in 1940. League historians are researching the feat. It has not been done at least since 1961.

The offense has not scored a touchdown against the Packers the last three games they have played.

The Packers dominated the statistics as quarterback Brett Favre passed for a career-best 402 yards, completing 36 of 54 passes and two touchdowns. Green Bay amassed 466 total yards, had 29 first downs to the Bears' 10, converted 6 of 13 third-down plays to the Bears' 2 of 11 and held the ball for 38:14 to the Bears' 21:46.

"It came down to the turnovers, and our guys (took advantage of) the turnovers," said Bears coach Dave Wannstedt. "You can't look at the possession time and the numbers and all that stuff, because we've been on the other side of that several times. It comes down to making plays, and our guys made plays.

"Three defensive scores in one game . . . I have never been around anything like that. That's a great, great accomplishment."

The Packers, who had scored first in 10 of their previous 11 games, drove to the Bears' 20 early in the first period. But Steve McMichael stuffed Darrell Thompson for a 2-yard loss, and on second down, Favre's pass intended for tight end Jackie Harris was intercepted by Jones, who handed off to Lincoln.

Lincoln scurried down the sideline, eluded a diving tackle attempt by Favre and raced 80 yards for a touchdown.

"Dante Jones made a great heads-up play," said Wannstedt. "That's something that the guys have been working on since training camp, when he got the interception and made the lateral to Lincoln. Those things don't just happen."

The Packers retaliated quickly, marching 71 yards on six plays for a tying score. Favre passed 18 yards to Sterling Sharpe, who caught 10 passes for 114 yards. Sharpe avoided the necktie tackle attempt by Donnell Woolford and muscled into the end zone.

Two series later, Green Bay marched to the Bears' 19, but the normally automatic Chris Jacke missed a 36-yard field goal.

The Bears went ahead 10-7 at the end of a 69-yard drive that included a 41-yard pass-interference call against Roland Mitchell trying to guard Terry Obee. Kevin Butler booted a 29-yard field goal with 5:04 left in the half.

The second half also began in bizarre fashion.

After the Packers drove to the Bears' 40, Favre faded back to pass as the Bears blitzed. The ball slipped out of Favre's right hand as linebacker Vinson Smith applied the pressure. Jones then picked up the loose ball, scrambled to his feet and ran 32 yards for a touchdown, hurdling over Favre into the end zone.

Jones twisted his left knee on the play as a Packer fell on him.

Jacke then pulled the Packers to within 17-10 with a 26-yard field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Curtis Conway fumbled at the 21 and Green Bay's Keo Coleman recovered.

"Before we fumbled the kickoff return, I felt we were in pretty good position as far as the momentum, and that turned it back the other way," said Wannstedt.

On third down, Favre passed 22 yards to Mark Clayton, who eluded tackle attempts by Lincoln and Carrier for the score.

"When they tied it up at 17, there was a never-quit attitude," said Wannstedt. "The guys just battled back."

The Bears went ahead 20-17 on Butler's 24-yard field goal with 1:38 left in the third period, and made it 23-17 on Butler's 29-yard field goal with 5:19 to go. A 48-yard pass to Obee keyed the drive.

"I told one of the coaches that the defensive back was turning his back and wasn't looking for the ball," Obee said. "I just jumped for it and caught it."

Carrier's interception and TD return finished off the Packers' thoughts of a comeback.

The Bears travel to Tampa Bay Sunday, where they lost a 20-17 squeaker last season.

"We'll enjoy this tonight and Monday morning at 6:30 we'll be thinking Tampa," said Wannstedt.